The ubiquitous BEST bus, often referred to as Mumbai's lifeline on the road, has started making passengers wait for extended periods, ranging from 30 minutes to an hour. This change has caused frustration among commuters, overcrowded buses, and discontent among citizens who rely on affordable road transport in Mumbai.

There was a time when trains might be delayed, but BEST buses were always punctual, adhering to their schedules across more than 500 routes. However, he noted that now, uncertainty prevails about when the next bus might arrive, leading to frustration. A decade ago, when the fleet consisted of over 4,000 buses serving 45 lakh passengers (compared to 35 lakh today), the service was efficient. The current situation on mismanagement by staff and inadequate planning, resulting in long wait times for middle-class workers at bus stops.